Cognitive self-compassion (CSC) online intervention to enhance self-esteem of adolescents exposed to parental intimate partner violence in India

Abstract

Children and adolescents exposed to parental intimate partner violence are more likely to have low self-esteem, and the adverse effects of low self-esteem have to be addressed. In the context of the global pandemic, there is a lack of online mental health interventions for parental IPV victims. This study examined the efficacy of the Cognitive Self Compassion (CSC) Online Intervention to enhance the self-esteem of adolescents exposed to parental IPV. The present study employed Conklin’s program development model, which involves three phases: (1) planning, (2) design and implementation, and (3) evaluation and program validation. The participants were adolescents (N = 192, 11-17 years of age) from India, Kerala and they were randomly assigned to experimental(n-20) and control group(n = 20). Coopersmith self-esteem scale, Interview, and focus group discussion was used to assess the severity of the problem. The significant change in post-test scores between the experimental and control groups (Ctrl: M = 14.95, SD = 1.73; Exp: M = 37.20, SD = 1.85) and the Pretest and post- test scores of the experimental group (Pretest: M = 15.60, SD = 1.90; Posttest = 37.20, SD = 1.85) indicates that the eight modular programs of CSC online intervention program effectively improve self-esteem in adolescents exposed to IPV and the effect sizes at post treatment were large (d.12.42). The study provided ample indication of the efficacy of the Cognitive Self Compassion online intervention program to enhance the self-esteem of adolescents